Spanish Subject Pronouns: Guide, Chart, Examples & Exercise

Notes: m is male and f female. Spanish has two words for “you” and “we.” We’ll explore this a bit more below!

Key Grammatical Rules to Remember

Just like in English, Spanish has a few rules about how pronouns are used.

Gender Matters: When you’re talking about a group of people, the pronoun changes based on gender.

• • Use Nosotros or Ellos for a group of men, or a mixed group of men and women.

  • Use Nosotras or Ellas only for a group of all women.

Capitalization: Spanish subject pronouns are not capitalized unless they start a sentence. For example:

Understanding “You”: Tú vs. Usted

Spanish has two different words for “you” in the singular: tú and usted. The one you choose depends on who you are talking to.

• Use Tú for informal situations, such as with friends, family, or people your own age.

• Use Usted for formal situations, like with a boss, an elder, or someone you’ve just met.

Want to learn more? Dive deeper into the difference between formal and informal Spanish. 👉 Click here to learn more about Tú vs. Usted

Examples of Subject Pronouns in Action

Seeing pronouns in a sentence helps you understand how they work. Notice how the verb changes with each pronoun.

Do I Always Have to Say the Pronoun?

A key difference from English is that Spanish often allows you to omit the subject pronoun. This is because the verb’s ending already tells you who the subject is. For example, instead of saying “Yo como pizza,” you can simply say “Como pizza” and people will know you mean “I eat pizza.”

Want to learn more about this rule? 👉 Click here for a full guide on omitting subject pronouns

How and When to Use Subject Pronouns in Spanish

Subject pronouns are commonly used at the beginning of a Spanish sentence to refer to the subject. Sometimes, you can omit them if the subject is clear from the context. You should use them in the following cases:

• After Some Prepositions to Emphasize the Subject:

  • ¿Y qué van a hacer ustedes? – What will you do?
  • Ella sí que es talentosa. – She really is talented.

• After the Verb “Ser” (To Be):

  • Soy yo. – It’s me.

• To Point Out Someone:

  • ¿Quién quiere comer? Él. – Who wants to eat? Him.

• For More Clarity or Contrast:

  • Ellas estudiaron, pero ustedes no. – They studied, but you all didn’t.

• To Compare:

  • Él hace más ejercicio que tú. – He works out more than you do.

• After Certain Prepositions:

  • Según tú. – According to you.

Exercises

Here are some simple exercises to help you practice using Spanish subject pronouns.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank with the correct Spanish subject pronoun.

1. ____ (I) quiero aprender español.
2. ____ (He) es un buen vecino.
3. ____ (We, mixed group) amamos la comida mexicana.
4. ____ (They, feminine group) están enamoradas.

Exercise 2: Tú vs. Usted

Choose the correct pronoun (tú or usted) for each situation.

1. Talking to your best friend: ____
2. Talking to your new boss: ____
3. Talking to a child: ____
4. Talking to a stranger who is older than you: ____

Exercise 3: Translate

Translate the following English phrases into Spanish.

1. You (informal) are very tall.
2. She drinks coffee.
3. They (masculine/mixed) are in love.
4. We (all-female group) love Mexican food.

Answers

Exercise 1

1. Yo
2. Él
3. Nosotros
4. Ellas

Exercise 2

1. Tú
2. Usted
3. Tú
4. Usted

Exercise 3

1. Tú eres muy alto.
2. Ella toma café.
3. Ellos están enamorados.
4. Nosotras amamos la comida mexicana.